Royal Navy tests underwater robots to protect pipelines and submarine cables
Pipelines and submarine cables are tactical targets in hybrid warfare. An underwater robot is designed to help identify and eliminate dangers.
The DSTL underwater robot during tests.
(Image: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Ministry of Defence)
The United Kingdom's Royal Navy is currently testing an underwater robot that will be able to monitor underwater pipelines and cables to protect against possible acts of sabotage. The remote-controlled robot is based on an already available underwater robot, which has been expanded by the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) to include special systems.
Underwater pipelines and submarine cables are vulnerable and can be sabotaged as part of hybrid warfare. To prevent this, the routes of the pipelines and cables are monitored via satellites, ships and aerial drones. But this alone is not enough to protect several hundred kilometers of routes. In future, the Royal Navy also wants to use drones underwater to secure the infrastructure. They will not only be able to detect changes to the pipelines and submarine cables, but will also be used to remove any explosive charges.
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To this end, the Royal Navy has worked with various industry partners, including Alford Technologies, Atlantas Marine, Sonardyne and ECS Special Projects, to adapt an existing Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and equip it with special systems. These include cameras, sensors and tools for manipulating objects that can be moved remotely by operators. However, the DSTL does not provide any precise details about the equipment or how it works in a press release.
For missions at great depths
However, the robot should be able to operate at great depths that are inaccessible to divers. The ROV provides image and sensor data in real time. The control system for eliminating any hazards responds without delay. Explosive devices, for example, can be removed after the camera images and sensor data have been evaluated by experts and any threats have been identified.
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The underwater robot is designed for longer deployments and offers a better price-performance ratio compared to the monitoring of routes by ships, for example. The DSTL does not provide specific information on the costs.
The Royal Navy has already tested the ROV in waters off Horsea Island in Portsmouth, Portland Habour off South Wales and in Norway. The tests are now to be continued in order to gain experience in handling the underwater robot and to improve it.
(olb)
